Intent

The national curriculum outlines the following aims for Music in schools:

• Perform, listen to, review and evaluate music across a range of historical periods, genres, styles and traditions, including the works of the great composers and musicians
• Learn to sing and to use their voices, to create and compose music on their own and with others, have the opportunity to learn a musical instrument, use technology appropriately and have the opportunity to progress to the next level of musical excellence
• Understand and explore how music is created, produced and communicated, including through the inter-related dimensions: pitch, duration, dynamics, tempo, timbre, texture, structure and appropriate musical notations.

Our Music curriculum intends to engage and inspire our children through a curriculum that motivates and challenges all learners to develop a love of music. Our curriculum is designed for all children to be able to perform, listen to, review and appreciate music from across a wide range of historical periods, genres, styles and traditions. Children learn to sing and use their voices to create and compose music on their own and with others. We look to help our children become skilled, confident and creative musicians.

Implementation

In Key Stage 1, children are taught to sing a wide repertory of songs regularly. These are appropriately selected for their year group. During this time, children are encouraged to listen to music and develop an awareness of different types of music. They are presented with opportunities to use both tuned and untuned instruments to create, experiment combine and explore them. Throughout the Key Stage, children develop their knowledge of rhythm, pulse and non-standard notation. In Key Stage 1, children begin to listen to and appreciate the compositions of famous composers.

In Key Stage 2, children are taught how to use a wide variety of instruments and are encouraged to appraise performances in a thoughtful and sensitive manner. They are taught to recognise and discriminate between various musical elements such as pitch and rhythm as well as recognising and writing scale notations. Throughout Key Stage 2, children compose and begin to record rhythms using standard notation. Over their time in Key Stage 2, the children develop their knowledge of pitch, notation and to improve their performing skills. In Key Stage 2, children continue to learn about famous composers and use different instruments to help recreate elements of their work. Across school, teachers are able to use various schemes to help support them in their planning. These schemes include: Singing Sherlock, Music Express, the BBC Ten Pieces and published schemes like Charanga and Sky Music Hub.

Additional Opportunities

Over the course of their time at St Patrick’s, children are given the opportunity to perform in whole class productions, invited to visit local Secondary Schools to watch live performances and experience a wide range of live music. Not only do these experiences support the children’s curriculum learning about different composers and styles of Music, they also provide them with a chance to broaden their understanding of Music and the Performing Arts, visiting different establishments and experiencing different forms of culture.

Our children are encouraged to perform their own music for an audience, developing their self-confidence and sensitivity towards others. A school production is held at the end of each academic year. During this, the Year 6 children are able to perform in front of both the younger children and the wider school community in a separate evening performance.

Impact

At St Patrick’s, we recognise the unique needs of each child and support them in reaching their full potential. Our Music curriculum enables children to progress to the next level of musicianship. We ensure children receive the experiences they require, both within and beyond the curriculum, to develop their skills and become confident musicians. During their time at St Patrick’s, our children learn about a variety of musicians, composers and styles of music and, throughout school, they are able to use the instruments and resources available to them to develop their skills and knowledge within different musical concepts.

" I enjoy performing in small groups or pairs." (Year 4 child)

"I know that I am making good progress in Music because my bow hold has improved." (Year 4 child)

" I enjoy Music lessons because my teacher makes it interesting." (Year 3 child) 

" I am proud of my work in Music." (Year 3 child)

" I enjoy watching performances by professional musicians." (Year 5 child)